Body harness



April 22, 1952 TWYMAN 2,594,097

BODY HARNESS Filed Nov. 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 xiii-.444

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L. TWYMAN BODY HARNESS April 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

ZI I ZS fag 2220A 5 y a ATTO/P/Vfy Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE BODY HARNESS Lewis Twyman, Miami, Fla. Application November 15, 1949,- Serial No. 127,316

6 Claims. (01. 128'1) This invention relates to a body harness adapted for use promoting and maintaining the desired compatibility in married life between husband andwife.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a body harness of anovel construction and which is adapted for use in the promotion of marital accord and thereby make the same more pleasurable and healthful for the participants.

The improved harness comprises a broad girdle for the waist and hips of the wife, which girdle is connected by small but strong straps to a stirrup for use by the foot or feet of the husband, and by which device each party holds and is easily held and supported by the other party. The stirrup is effective in large part because it is made 'so as to constitute a double-fulcrum, as will more'fully appear.

The advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure'l is a front elevational view of the improved device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device on a smaller scale, and shown applied to the body. I

Figure 3 is a view of the girdle in partially open and partially closed position.

Figure 4 is a detail elevational view showing an adjustable connection in the two straps depending from the girdle and supporting the stirrup.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the foot-engageable stirrup shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device as shown in'Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the improved device, in accordance with a preferred structural embodiment thereof, comprises a girdle I adapted to surround and firmly engage the waist and hips of the wearer. The girdleis of substantial width for distribution of stresses'over a corresponding area of the body of the wearer, so as not to cut or cramp but be comfortable, and such girdle is constructed of a sheet or strip of any desired strong woven fabric II.

The fabric sheet II is interiorly reinforced by upper and lower comparatively narrow nonelastic woven bands or strips I2 and I3, and vertically disposed strips I 4 intermediate strips l2 and [3. The sheet II is further provided with a longitudinally disposed friction strip l intermediate the strips l2 and I3 and which is to effect an adhesive or grasping action on the person of the wearer.

. 2 i The sheet II is provided on the outer face thereof with vertically spaced securing and ad' justing non-elastic woven bands l6, which are preferably three innumber as shown, and whose corresponding ends terminate substantially short of one end of the sheet I i and are provided with easily and quickly releasable fasteners IT. The opposite ends of these bands extend beyond the corresponding end of the sheet II and are receivable in the fasteners H, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, with adjacent ends of sheet II in lapped relation.

A foot-engageable stirrup I8 is suspended from the girdle In by means of a pair of adjustable straps I9 and 2ll. Each strap l9 and 20 has one end 2| thereof fixed to the lower rear edge of the girdle, from which the strap extends downwardly to the stirrup I8. The strap has a sliding connection with the stirrup and extends upwardly therefrom through a slidable adjusting member 22, and further extends upwardly and thence through a ring 23 secured to the lower front edge of the girdle. The strap then extends downwardly and has its other end connected to the adjusting member 22, as is more clearly indicated in Figure 4. l

The stirrup l8 includes a plurality of vertically spaced relatively rigid foot-engageable slats or supports or elevations 25, each of which includes an upper fabric cover 26 and a lower fabric cover 21 stitched to the cover 26.

The stirrup further includes nested fabric bands 28, 29 and 30, corresponding in number to that of the slats 25, and the ends of the bands are disposed between the fabric covers 26 and 21, and secured therebetween, as can be seen from Figure 5.

A fabric strip 3| has its opposite ends stitched to the inner face of the inner band 28, and provides therewith a loop 32 through which the intermediate portions of the straps I91 and 20 loosely extend.

It will be seen from the above description that the device generally comprises a wide body-engageable adjustable girdle, and a foot-engageable stirrup loosely engaged with the straps. The construction accordingly is adapted for use on persons of varying girth measurements as well as varying heights.

At this point, it is to be observed that the straps l9 and 20 are preferably connected to the girdle at points in alignment with the vertical reinforcing strips l4, and these strips, together with the strips l2, l3 and I5, and the adjusting bands [6, provide a girdle capable of withstanding substantial strains.

The improved device is shown in applied position in Figure 2, and from this figure, together with Figure 1, it will be seen that the fixed ends 2| of straps I9 and 20 are disposed at the rear of the body B or the girdle l0 and rather closely adjacent the rear center thereof, but are about 6 inches apart, while the movably connected portions of the straps at rings 23 are disposed substantially at opposite sides of the body or girdle. With this position of the straps l9 and 20 relative to the girdle ID, the stirrup It will normally lie to the rear of the legs of the wearer, as indicated in Figure 2.

For convenience when the device is not in use the stirrup I8 may be detachably connected to girdle H] by cooperating fasteners'tfi, and thus;

only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secured by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1-. A device of the kind described comprising a relatively wide hips and abdomen-engageable 4 girdle, strap supported by and depending from the girdle at opposite sides of the fore and aft center thereof, and a single foot-engageable stirrup jointly supported by the straps.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said girdle is provided with adjusting and securing straps and a body-engageable friction band.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said strap are adjustable and have a free sliding connection with the girdle and the stirrup.

4. The construction according to claim 1, wherein said stirrup comprises a plurality of spaced foot-engageable supports.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said stirrup comprises a plurality of nested bands, and a ioot-engageable support carried by each band.

6. A device of the kind described comprising a relatively wide hips and abdomen-engageable girdle, a single -foot-engageable stirrup, anda pair of adjustable straps connected with the girdle and having sliding engagement with the stirrup. r

- LEWIS TWYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date 504,598 Leyda Sept. 5, 1893 2,097,376

Marshman Oct. 26, 1937 

